[Translation: You know sometimes, those who lose in the bidding will file a case. Why? It's not because they are aggrieved, but it's to tell the winner, "Give me a cut of the contract. Just pay me." It's a business. They will bid, even though they know they will lose.]

Duterte's statement in Hong Kong isn't the first time that he criticized the judiciary.

In August 2016, he lashed out at Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who said alleged drug personalities didn't have to turn themselves in unless there was a warrant for their arrest.

The President said in a speech in Cagayan de Oro that given the country's slow judicial process, he could not simply wait for arrest warrants to be issued – while letting drug addicts and pushers roam the streets.

He likewise threatened to declare martial law, warning of a possible constitutional crisis in a clash between the Executive and the Judiciary.

"Do not create a crisis because I will order everybody in the executive department not to honor you. Gusto mo ng prangkahan [If you want me to be frank]," he said.

Intervention by the courts is among the reasons that the Transportation Department is asking Congress to give Duterte emergency powers to put up much-needed infrastructure and to set up projects.

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate filed bills in 2016 as a substitute to the emergency powers.

Sec. 33 of House Bill No. 4334 or the "Traffic Crisis Act of 2016" and Sec. 23 of Senate Bill No. 1284 or the "Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act of 2016" both prohibit the issuance of TROs, except by the Supreme Court, for priority projects related to transportation.

Meanwhile, groups are calling for the TRO against the Reproductive Health Law, which was first enacted in 2012, to be lifted.

The TRO was issued after the Health Department acquired around 400,000 contraceptive implants that petitioners claimed could cause abortions.

The Supreme then expanded the TRO to cover other contraceptive products in the Philippine market.

Duterte signed an executive order in January 2017 to provide financial support for modern family planning programs, as part of his 10-point socioeconomic agenda.